Hollywood would like us to believe that everyone goes to school, works hard, and quickly winds up in their dream job. From pauper to Wall Street, shy guy to leading man, or mailroom clerk to CEO, it's all about that fairytale ending. Now brush the popcorn from your lap and let your eyes readjust to the light, because the movie's over and we're heading back to reality.

First things first: there's no way to tell, with absolute certainty, what it will be like to work for a company before you sign on the dotted line. That said, you can do your due diligence ahead of time to figure out whether the corporate culture is a good fit for you and up your chances of making the right choice. Research the company on the internet and pay attention to its interactions with employees and customers on social media -- but most of all, watch for these important signs when you meet with the hiring manager during your interview.

It's an especially tough time to be having a tough time at work. Thanks to the proliferation of social media and the 24-hour news cycle, anyone with access to a screen sees dozens of references to the latest tragedy every day. Occasionally, those sad stories include a perpetrator who allegedly suffered from mental illness. Leaving aside for a moment the issue of whether or not it's fair for pundits to appoint themselves mental health professionals and diagnose a cause and effect, it's hard to see -- especially if you're feeling less than well yourself.

Sometimes, the conventional ways of trying to boost your brainpower just don't cut it, and you need some clever, one-off tricks to smack yourself back in the groove and on your way to productivity heaven. Here are five bizarre, yet effective ways to help you have a more productive, less monotonous workday.

Mobile technology was supposed to set us free from the tyranny of the 9-to-5, allowing workers to escape the office and plug in wherever they happened to be, and work when inspiration struck. Instead, studies show, improvements in technology have blurred the boundaries between work-time and personal-time, and changed managers' expectations of the managed. In short, many bosses and employers now expect workers to check their email at night, on the weekends, even on vacation. The result? Workers are getting mad, and getting less done.

On Thursday, Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, effectively allowing businesses to refuse to serve gay customers. In the days since, some companies have responded by restricting or terminating their investments in Indiana.

Sometimes, workplace social events feel like a chore. Management may not want to "waste" time sponsoring fun during the workday, and not all employees are thrilled about spending their free time on the weekend at the company picnic. However, that social time among staff can boost productivity and increase morale and quality of life at work. Here is why you should encourage social events at your workplace.

One of the NBA's most acclaimed and tenured players announced his retirement this past week. Nash had a respected and decorated career in the NBA, but it didn’t come without its fair share of adversity. We'll take a look at a few ways Nash's hard-earned success can be applied off the court and inspire professionals to be MVPs in their careers.

If a female executive retreats to her car to scream because her promotion was (again) awarded to her male colleague, does anyone hear her scream … or even care? Probably not. Unfortunately, this happens countless times a day as working women continue to get passed over, neglected, and discriminated against in their careers. What's worse is that this epidemic isn't isolated to lower-ranking women, it's consistent all the way up the corporate ladder where female executives continue to chip away at the glass ceiling.

Sometimes, making progress in one area leads to new problems in another. The improved unemployment rate may be causing some difficult adjustments for schools, for example, as subs move toward full-time employment in greater numbers.

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994 is a federal statute that protects veterans and servicemembers from being discriminated against due to their military status in the civilian employment arena. This statute typically protects two groups of people: (1) reservists who have military responsibilities and a civilian job and (2) veterans who have entered or are trying to enter the civilian workforce after their military service is complete. While the law itself is long and complicated, these are four things servicemembers and veterans should be aware of regarding their rights.

It's a common dilemma, really. You're gainfully employed, but you also can't help but think that there are greener pastures with another employer. However, your current job isn't that bad, so you're not really an active job seeker -- it'd just be nice to know what career options are available. If this is you, then read on to see why you are a recruiter's dream come true. Here's why.

When you're evaluating a job offer, it's almost always smart to ask for more money. After all, if you don't ask, most of the time, you won't get. That said, occasionally you'll run into hiring managers who choose to see even a perfectly reasonable request as a personal affront. This week's roundup includes expert advice on dealing with that situation, plus tips on how to build your personal brand and avoid the pitfalls of crafting a college essay.

When PayScale compiled the Salary Negotiation Guide, less than half of the 31,000 respondents said that they had ever negotiated salary. Why don't more people ask for a raise? For 28 percent of those who declined to negotiate, it was because they felt uncomfortable asking for more money. When you read some of these stories, it will become clear why some people feel that way.

Want to get mad? If you have ever attended or plan to attend college, take a look at a Ted Scheinman's recent Pacific Standard article, entitled How Colleges Misspend Your Tuition Money. The URL, which includes the phrase "pay for decent teachers, not Dr. Phil," gives the first hint of what lies ahead. Hint: it's not a sound investment in teaching staff, but if you've talked to any underpaid, untenured adjunct faculty lately, you probably already knew that.

Would you think twice about sharing a mindless "I'm so bored" post on social media if you knew that research shows that people who do so experience higher rates of heart attacks and strokes? What's worse, research that ties social media use to emotional stability/instability is making its way into the hands of people that you probably don't want to be privy to such information: recruiters, hiring managers, and employers. Here's what you need to know about what your social media sharing is saying about you.

What's the real value of a college degree? Understanding that many benefits of education are intangible, in an era when student loan debt is higher than ever before and post-graduation employment far from a sure thing, most prospective students want to make sure that their tuition dollars are an investment in their future. PayScale's recently released College ROI Report ranks schools and majors by the return students can expect from their investment. In today's #PayChat on Twitter, we asked readers to share their experiences.

You polished your resume and got a job interview. You researched the company. You practiced answering questions about your experiences in front of a mirror. You really want this job, and you do possess the qualifications necessary to do it. But you still can't shake that feeling of nervousness or get rid of the butterflies in your stomach. You are not alone; many of us feel anxiety before interviews, especially in today's competitive job market. Here are ways you can alleviate your anxiety and have a good interview.

Forty-one percent of American workers don't take all of their vacation days, according to a study by the U.S. Travel Association, despite the fact that 96 percent of respondents recognized the value of taking time off. Without downtime, workers are less productive, less engaged, and just plain less happy at work. So why aren't we taking all our PTO?

Your favorite color might not be the best choice for the paint in your home office. Research shows that certain colors are capable of boosting productivity and mood, while other colors have more of a negative impact on disposition. Read on to learn more about how different hues send different cues to your brain and how that affects your every day.